Alan Pulido scores twice for Sporting KC. Here’s the good & bad from draw vs. Galaxy

It looked like Sporting Kansas City was destined for a second straight loss at the hands of an MLS team hailing from Los Angeles (after Saturday’s controversial result). But a late penalty kick conversion from Alan Pulido salvaged a valuable road point for Sporting.

Sporting’s record signing scored both goals in a 2-2 draw with the Galaxy on Wednesday night. The Mexican star now has six goals in his last four matches, scoring in each contest. He has scored six of Sporting KC’s last eight goals.

While Pulido is happy about his run of goal-scoring form, he says, “It’s better when the team wins.”

“We don’t feel a very happy sensation,” Pulido said after the match, “because I think we know we could win this match.”

Pulido opened the scoring for Sporting (5-9-6) just 12 minutes in when he turned home Erik Thommy’s cross with a header into the top corner. It was an early exclamation point on what was, overall, an excellent first-half showing from Sporting. They took 10 shots and put three on target, including Pulido’s goal.

But all that good work was canceled out by a lapse in concentration midway through the half. While there was a definite argument as to whether or not the free kick to begin the play was valid, what ensued was a mistake Sporting has made repeatedly, dating back to last season.

An out-swinging cross froze the Sporting back line, and defender Martin Caceres slipped behind Khiry Shelton for an easy header into the net.

“The recognition on the free kick was poor,” Vermes said, “and there are people supposed to be at the back (post) that just never went out.”

The Galaxy took the lead in the second half when Riqui Puig played an ambitious pass over the top of a befuddled Andreu Fontás. Preston Judd, who was once contracted to Sporting KC II, headed it home to give the Galaxy what they thought would be a winning number.

Again, it was a lack of recognition at that moment that cost Sporting.

“Where we lose the ball, we lose the ball because we don’t recognize that we don’t have numbers on that side of the field,” Vermes said. “We had numbers on the other side of the field that we went away from there. Which, then, when we lost the ball, we were completely exposed.”

However, as the clock approached the 90th minute and Sporting’s onslaught to equalize was underway, the ball finally bounced the right way, this time when Remi Walter’s shot hit the outstretched arm of Galaxy defender Daniel Aguirre inside the box.

The referee had zero hesitation in pointing to the spot. Pulido got his penalty kick through the outstretched hands of Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond and into the corner to give Sporting a valuable road point as they continue to climb back into playoff contention.

While the point is valuable, Vermes didn’t seem too happy with how it played out.

“As much as I can say that I’m happy with the fact that the team came back from being down 2-1, we were in control of the game,” Vermes said. “We shouldn’t have given up either goal, but we did.

“It’s good that we came back, but I would say out of these last two games, getting one point isn’t enough.”

Sporting KC returns home for a Saturday night showdown with the Chicago Fire at Children’s Mercy Park, kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 11:50 PM.